"I think the last time (school was canceled), it was warranted because it was really cold that morning," said Joe Kessler, the parent of a Shawnee Mission West High School freshman. "Tomorrow morning, if it's going to be a minus-20 wind-chill factor, I think that's too cold for them to stand at the bus stop."

"I think if you want to walk to school, that's going to be pretty a frigid temperature," said Carol Parker, whose daughter attends Harrisonville High School. "The kids that can drive or have a ride there, I don't know that that's so bad, but the kids who have to walk, that makes it pretty hard on them."

Bus drivers said they plan to arrive early to get the vehicles started and the heaters cranking.

School districts have policies in place to keep children inside for recess on cold days so they're not exposed to the bitter conditions.